At this point I had my first encounter with fellow travelers as several mountain bikers came up behind me on their morning ride.
Breathing heavily, legs whirling madly in low gear, sweat dripping down their faces, they crept on up the steep grade and out of sight.
With my heavy backpack loaded with camera gear, I envied their lightweight, faster mode of travel. But my slower pace did give me a better chance to soak in my surroundings, especially during my frequent rest stops on the steep sections!